Road-working machine.



S- M. CHASE & F. A.'FLEWHNG.

ROAD WORKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. I916.

Patented May 8, 191?.

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CHASE 8: F. A. FLEMING. ROAD WORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man JULY 22. mus.v

lmtfinted May 8, 1917.

SSHEETS-SHEET 2.

S; M. CHASE & F. A. FLEMING.

ROAD WORKING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED JULY 22.1916.

Patentad MayS, 1917.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

SHERWOOD M. CHASE AND. FRANK A. FLEMING,

THE CHASE FOUNDRY AND MANUFACTURING COMFANY,

CORPORATION 015 OHIQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

or con-Uranus, onto, assien'ons no or COLUMBUS, OHIO, .e

BO-WOBKING MACHINE.

Patented May 8, 131%.

Application filed July 22, 1916. Serial No. 110,843.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SHERw00n-M.- GHAsE and FRANK A. FLEMING, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Working Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanymg drawing.

This invention relates machines.

An object of our invention is to grade, crown and surface a highway.

In particular, we have provided a roadworking machine embracing the following:

First, a novel means for raising and lowto road working ering the main frame to determine the depth of cut of the entire surface of the road and a means to lift the whole machine ofl of the road for the purposes of transportation of the road working machine from place to place.

Second, a novel means of steering the machine and swinging it from side to side or point to point as a whole.

Third, a succession of blades or scrapers, sometimes called Spreaders, combined with adjusting or elevating and lowering mechanism whereby all of the blades may be adjusted at. the same time, or some of them may be adjusted without materially aflecting the adjustment of the others.

Fourth, .a series of flexible connections between certain parts of the machine so that when the blades or scrapers or any of them meet with a severe resistance they can yield somewhat to more readily pass such obstruction, yet without putting undue strains upon the other flexible connections also permitting the manual adjustment of some of the adjusting devices without unduly straining other parts which are not adjusted by the particular adjusting devices then being vmanipulated. Another result obtained by these flexible connections is that of enablin the scraping, or cutting blades, or either 0 them, to conform more closely to the general contour of the road as for instance in going around a curve.

The invention in this particular instance is shown applied to a machine of the character illustrated and described in Letters parts of the machine; such Patent No. 1,069,524, granted to V. Burson Aug. 5th, 1913. The invention,however,

is applicable to machines of different character.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a plan View of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of 'Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the rear portion of the machine on the line 1-4: of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 55 of Fi 1 showing the pivotal connection of the %lade with the in frame; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View on the line 66 of Fig. 1 showing the construction of the blade, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of retaining the steering device in engagement with the main frame.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown there is a longitudinally extending main frame 1 which comprises a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending angle irons 2 and 3 which are suitably connected together. Above this frame is a transversely extending axle t provided at each end with supporting wheels 5. A longitudinally extending lever '6 is pivoted above and to the axle by means of a bearing frame 7. A fifth wheel 8 pivotally connects the axle 4 to the lever 6 so that the wheels can be turned from one side to the other for steering purposes, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The front end of the lever 6 is pivotally connected on a transverse axis 9 to one end of a'connecting piece 10. This connecting piece in turn is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the frame 1 on a longitudinal axis 11 extending from front to rear of the machine. By the above construction it will be seen that the lever 6 is capable of moving around a transverse axis and a longitudinal axis relatively to the frame 1. The opposite end of the lever 6 is connected to the main frame 1 throughthe instrumentality of a cable or similar flexible device 12. This cable in the present instance is connected at one end 13 to the lever 6 and directed around a guiding pulley 14 upon the frame 1 and around a drum 15 upon the lever 6. This arrangement provides a distinct mechanical advantage in lifting the main frame, whereby it may be easily lifted and in'effect constitutes a block and tackle mechanism. At the rear of the machine and mounted upon the frame 1 is a platform 16. Projecting upwardly from this platform is a stand or bracket 17 rotatably mounted in which is a shaft 18 provided with a drum 19 which can be rotated by a suitable hand wheel 20. Rotatably mounted at one end of the lever 6 is also a drum 21. Thedrums 19 and 21 are connected by means of a cable '22 having its ends attached to these drums. Fixed to the drum 21 is a sprocket wheel 23. Motion is transmitted from this sprocket wheel to the drum 15 through the instrumentality of a sprocket wheel 24 on the drum 15 and a connecting sprocket chain 25. It will be seen that when the drum 19 is rotated to wind up the cable 22 the drum 21 will rotate thedrum 15 to Wind up the cable 12, thereby lessening the distance between the connecting point 13 and the pulley 14 and raising the main frame relatively to the axle 4. The flexible connection shown and described has a distinct advantage over devices used heretofore for the reason that in the normal operation of the machine in passing over obstructions and the like when the main frame 1 rises the connection 12 will simply slacken Without affecting any of the other mechanism. Furthermore, this connection will allow the transverse movementL of the axle and wheels around the axis 11 so that they can follow the grade of the road without affecting the position of the main frame and its blades. The drum 19 is also supplied with a brake band 26 operated by means of a pedal 27 which can be locked in adjusted position. A suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism 28 may also be provided if desired.

For turning the Wheels for steering around the pivot or fifth wheel 8 the axle 4 is supplied with a pair of rearwardly extending members 29 terminating in a suitable frame 30 which is provided on its under side with a. segmental rack 31. For effecting the rack to steer the machine the stand 17 is provided with a suitable bracket 32 having journaled therein a worm 33 which can be operated by a suitable hand wheel 34. The worm meshes with a suitably journaled worm wheel 35 which has fixed to it at one side a sprocket 36. A sprocket chain 37 connects the sprocket 36 with a sprocket 38 on a longitudinally extending shaft 39 located adjacent the main frame and extending forwardly beneath the rack 31 and at this point is provided with a pinion 40 which meshes with the rack. The portion 30 of the steering means has an overlapping portion or shield 41 which prevents dirt and other matter from afiecting the operation of the rack and pinion. This shield loosely projects into a slot 41 formed on the frame, whereby the segmental rack is retained in engagement or mesh with the pinion.

In order to secure the main frame in raised position relatively to the axle in transporting the machine from place to place the main frame has fixed to it a hook 42 adapted to engage a. hanger or strap 43 mounted upon the lever 6. The forward end of the main frame has a tongue 44 pivoted at 45. The forward portion of the tongue has a supporting truck 46 pivoted on a king bolt 46. The truck 46 assists in supporting this frame and operating parts. When the frame is raised or lowered relatively to the axle 4, which axle is located centrally of the frame to evenly balance the same it is generally necessary to also adjust the forward end of the frame relatively to the tongue and truck 46 to hold the parts in horizontal position. For this purpose the rear end of the tongue is operatively connected to a lever 47 upon the main frame whereby the forward end thereof can be adjusted up and down. This lever is held in locked position by a detent 48 which is adapted to engage a rack. The forward end of the main frame is weighted, as indicated at 49, in order to keep the nose of the machine down and balanced.

A V-shaped scraper 50 is movably attached to the forward end of the main frame. Means are also provided for raising and lowering the scraper and for this purpose we have shown a lever 51 pivoted at 52 to the tongue 44 and which is connected by means of a link 53 to the scraper.

The lever51 is held in adjusted position by means of a pivoted ladder-like device 54 substantially asshown. In the present instance we have provided a plurality of scrapers 55 arranged in pairs, each pair di verging forwardly. Each scraper may comrise a body member, such as the angle iron 56, Fig. 6, and a curved blade 57 provided with cutting edges along both sides and of symmetrical construction. To prevent the wabbling of this blade an intermediate block 58 is provided. In the present instance the block on the side adjacent the body member 56 is fiat and on the side adjacent the blade is curved so that the parts will fit closely without wabbling. A plurality of bolts 59 connect the blade, pass through the block 58 and through the body member 56. These bolts are securely locked by means of nuts 60. By the above arrangement the blades may be easily removed and turned over to reverse the cutting edges or they may be transposed to the opposite side of the machine so that the inner portions which are likely to be less worn can be placed at the outer end. It will be seen that this construction prolongs the use of the 130 blade considerably. The longitudinally extending members 2 and 3 are provided with fixed rocker blocks 61 to which are pivotally attached the inner ends of the scrapers by means of bolts 62 which pass through the frame members 2 and 3, the blocks 61 and the horizontal flanges of the body members 56. The openings 63 through these flanges are fiared to allow the pivotal movement of the scrapers and the edges of the rocker blocks adjacent thereto are curved so that the inner ends of the scrapers can move around the blocks as an axis. The parts are held in engagement and upon the bolts by means of nuts 64. This method of pivotally attaching the inner ends of the scrapersto the main frame insures a free and easy pivotal movement which heretofore has not been obtained. The horizontal flanges of the longitudinally extending frame members 2 and 3 are provided with a plurality of openings 65 through any of which the bolts 62 can be passed to vary the ad ustment or angle of each pair of scrapers. These openings are located so that the angle made by the scrapers of each pair can be reversed if so desired. As a further means of adjustment and to hold the scrapers on each side in parallel arrangement they are pivotally connected by longitudinally extending connecting bars 66. To hold the scrapers of each pair in any given angular relation we have provided links 67 each connected at one end to one connecting bar 66 and at its opposite end to the frame 1, the connecting bars 66 being provided with a plurality of openings 68 to allow the adjustment of the parts. The ends of each of the connecting bars are provided with slotted brackets 69. Extending transversely across the main frame and having their ends projecting into the brackets 69 are a pair of bridge beams 70. There is such a beamlocated on each side of the axle 4 and adjacent each end of the connecting bars 66. The main frame adjacent each of the bridge beams is provided with a pair of upwardly extending brackets 71 having slots 72, the bridge beam adjacent thereto extending through these slots. In order to raise the brackets and frame relatively to the beams there is pivoted in the upper portion of each pair of brackets a nut 7 3. A screw74 passes through the nut and is connected at 7 5 to the beam. The construction of operating means for each of the bridge beams is the same. Each of the screws is operated-by means of a suitable hand wheel 76. When the screw 74: is rotated the bridge beam will be held relatively immovable with the outer ends of the scrapers upon the ground. It will then be seen that the bracket 71 carrying with it the main frame will raise the inner ends of the scrapers relatively to the outer ends, thereby varying the dihedral angle transversely, as shown in Fig. 3,:and

thereby varying the contour of the crown upon which the blades operate. By utilizing a plurality of independently operable adjusting devices the scrapers may be differentially operated and more easily operated than by using a single intermediate adjusting device. With only a single elevating or lowering device, and the elevating or'lowering of the scraperor cutting blades as a unit by one operation, it was found that the machine would have a tendency to rock upon the jack axle as a fulcrum point, either plunging the ends of the machine and the forward cutter blades into the roadway if perchance it should be higher under the forward portion of the machine than the portion of the roadway upon which the wheels carried by the jack axle rested. At such a time the rear blades would be elevated far above the ground with which they should have been in contact; if themachine should become balanced so that the forward end was thrown out of contact with the ground, then the rear blades would out too deeply. In other words, the single adjustment of all the blades as a unit did not permit the blades to be adjusted so that they would follow the contour of the road and cut into the surface of the road at the depth the operator desired without plunging too deeply or not-touching the roadway at all. The plurality of adjusting means eliminates this difficulty. The plurality of adjusting means permits the blades to be adjusted according to the respective work they are intended to perform and permits the adjustment of the blades with respect to the work that the companion blades are expected to perform. The rearing into the air or the plunging into the ground is thereby eliminated by the novel application of this plurality of adjusting means. When the front adjusting device is operated it will be seen that the dihedral angle of the blades at the front will be afiected more or less than the same blades at the rear and the reverse will be the case when the rear adjusting device is operated. On the other hand both hand wheels 76 can be rotated to uniformly adjust the blades if so desired. This can be done much easier than where a single wheel is used. In providing the pivotal connection between the member 73 which constitutes the nut and brackets 71 the effects of strain and the like are eliminated and the blades atone end of the machine can'be adjusted without warping or danger of break ing the adjusting device, for the blades at the opposite end of the machine.

Operation and adjustment.

In describing the operation and adjustment of this road making machine, we will start the description with the machine in condition for transportation on the road from'place to place, and not in condition to treat the road.

When the machine is thus in condition for transportation it will have the nose or plow 50 elevated above the ground, the rack and bar 51 'so adjusted that the main longitudinal frame 1 and the supplementary frame 44 attached to the forward wheels 46 will be in substantially horizontal alinement. The lever 47 and its accompanying ratchet is also used, as described above, for making this relative adjustment of the main frame 1 with the frame 44. The main frame 1 with the accompanying spreader or cutting blades, together with the attached mechanism will be all elevated above the ground and suspended on the jack axle 4 which in turn is carried by the main wheels 5. T he hook 42 has engaged with the link or strap 43. This keeps the entire frame above the roadway and determines the relative position of the lever 6 to the main frame 1.

To prepare the machine for operating on the road, the hand wheel 20 is operated after releasing the brake 26, reeling the flexible connection 22 in such a direction that the main frame 1 and the lever 6 are drawn closer together in order to release the hook 42 and the loop 43. Upon the release of 42 from 43 the main frame 1 is allowed to descend toward the ground. The rapidity of the movement of the main frame 1 toward the ground is governed by the band brake 26 which will prevent too rapid descent. When the main frame 1 with its accompanying scraper blades and attached mechanism rests upon the ground, the depth of cut of the blades will be determined by the distance be tween the lever 6 and frame 1 through the adjusting means operated primarily by the hand wheel 20.

The relation of the forward end of the machine to the ground is determined by adj usting the rack 54 with the arm or bar 51.

The curvature of the crown and the amount of work to be done by each of the cutting or spreading blades is determined by the adjustment of the lowering and elevating means operated through the hand wheels 76, 76. The width of the cut of the blades is determined by the angle at which they stand relative to the main frame 1. This angle may be varied to suit the needs of the occasion by the adjustable means heretofore described, as 68, 67 and 65.

As the machine is drawn along the road, the hand wheel 20 can be used to raise and lower the machine to secure the proper depth of out. In order that the whole machine may follow the general contour of the road, as for instance, when the road is banked on a curve, the entire machine may rock upon the longitudinal axis through the pivot 11. The cutter blades are permitted to conform to the minor variations in the road surface by reason of the more or less loose connection to themain frame through the rockerblock 61, to the bridge beams 70 through the brackets 69. Some freedom of movement is also permitted by reason of the pivotal connection of the adjusting means to the supporting brackets 71 at 73.

The whole frame may lift if a particularly diflicult obstruction is met with; if this occurs, then as the whole apparatus lifts it will swing about the pivotal point 9 and the axle 4, allowing the chain or flexible means 12 to slacken around the pulley 14. This slack maybe taken up by the operation of the hand panying apparatus, thus preventing any violent return to a lower position with a consequent injury of the machine or imperfect grading of the roadway.

In order to steer the road making machine on the road the hand wheel 34 may be operated to turn the machine .from point to point about the pivotal point represented by the fifth wheel.

If it is desired, in a road, to turn the machine end for end and return in the direction over which the machine has just come, the entire machine can be detached from its motive power at the forward end, elevated by means of the hand wheel 20 and the accompanying mechanism and then revolved end for end on the main wheels 5--5.

The space in which the machine-thus turns needs have a radius no greater than the distance from the fifth wheel to the farthest extremity of the machine.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that we do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a main frame, a member mounted upon said supporting means and attached at one end to said main frame, a flexible connection between the opposite end of said member and said main frame, a guiding device around which said connection is directed and means on the main frame for drawing up said flexible connection to raise the frame relatively to the supporting means.

2. A road grader comprising a member consisting of a frame carrying scraping blades, a wheel supported axle extending transversely of said frame, a member comprisin a longitudinally disposed lever fulcrume on said axle, means connecting one wheel 20-and its accom end of said lever to the frame, a flexible connection between the opposite end of the lever and frame, said connection being fixed to one member, a guiding device on the other member around which the connection is directed, and a drum for winding up said connection.

3. A road grader comprising a member consisting of a frame carrying scraping blades, a wheel supported axle extending transversely of said frame, a member comprising a longitudinally disposed lever fulcrumed on said axle, means connecting one end of said lever to the frame, a flexible connection between the opposite ends of said lever and the frame,a guiding device upon one of said members, said flexible connection being fixed at one end to the other of said members and directed around said guiding device back to the member to which it is fixed, and a drum for winding up the other end of said flexible connection.

4. In a road worln ng machine, a wheeled axle, a main frame below said axle, a lever pivoted upon said axle and pivotally connected at one end to said frame, a flexible connection between the opposite end of said lever and said frame, means upon said lever for winding up said connection, and means upon the frame for operating said connection winding means.

5. In a road working machine, a wheeled axle, a main frame located beneath said axle, a lever attached at each end to said frame and pivoted intermediate its ends to said axle, one of the attachments of said lever with said frame being flexible, a drum upon said lever for winding up said flexible connection for raising and lowering the frame relatively to the axle, operating devices upon said frame, and a flexible connection between said operating devices and the drum upon said lever for actuating said drum.

6. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a frame, a device forbodily raising and lowering said frame relatively to said supporting means, actuating means for said device upon the main frame, a member connected to said supporting means and extending to a point adjacent the frame and cooperating devices on the member and frame for moving said su porting means for steering.

I. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a frame located centrally below said supporting means, raising and lowering devices mounted on said supporting means and connected to said frame at a plurality of points, a member connected to said supporting means and extending to a point adjacent the frame, and coiiperating devices on the member and frame for moving said supporting means for steering.

8. In a road working machine, a lever provided with a fifth wheel bearing, an axle provided with wheels and rotatably mounted on said bearing, a main frame connected to said lever, means for adjusting said frame through the instrumentality of said lever,

and means for moving said axle around said fifth wheel as an axis for steering. 9. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a frame, a rigid member mounted on said supporting means and pivotally connected at one end to said frame on an axis extending from front to rear centrally of the frame, and an adjustable connection between the opposite end of said member and the frame and arranged to allow relative movement of the frame around said axis.

10. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a main frame, and adjusting devices connecting said supporting means with the main frame at points centrally thereof, said oints of connection providing a longitudina ly extending axis around which unlimited relative movement between the supporting means and main frame is possible.

11. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a mainframe, adjusting devices connecting said supporting means with the main frame at points centrally thereof, whereby the main frame may be raised and lowered relatively to said supporting means, said points of connection providing a centrally arranged longitudinally extending axis, around which relative movement between the supporting means and the frame is possible, and devices upon the main frame for moving said supporting means for steering.

12. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a main frame, a rigid member mounted on said supporting means and pivotally connected at one end to said frame on an axis extending from front to rear centrally of the frame, and a connection between the opposite end of said member and the. frame.

13. In a road working machine, means for supporting the machine on the ground, a main frame, a lever pivoted to said supporting means and universally pivoted at one end to said frame, and a flexible connection between said frame and the opposite end of said lever.

M. In a road working machine, an axle provided with wheels, a main frame located beneath said axle, a lever pivoted to said axle and universally pivoted at one end to said frame, a flexible connection between the opposite end of said lever and said frame, and means for adjusting said flexible connection.

15. In a road working machine, an axle provided with wheels, a lever pivoted to said axle for movement there around as an axis, a fifth wheel connection between said lever and said axle, a main frame, almiversal connection between one end of said lever and said frame, a flexible connection between the other end of said lever and said frame, means for adjusting said flexible connection to raise and lower the frame relatively to the axle, and means for moving said axleand wheels for steering.

16. In a road working machine, a wheeled axle, a lever pivoted and rotatable around said axle as an axis, a pivotal connection between said lever and axle to allow movement of the latter to one side or the other for steering, a main frame, a universal connection between one end of said lever and said frame, a flexible connection between the other end of said lever and said frame, a platform upon said frame, and means upon said platform for operating said flexible connection to raise the frame and for steer- I7. In a road working machine, a main frame, a plurality of blades having their inner portions movably attached to said frame and a plurality of adjusting devices connected to the outer portions of said blades, whereby they may be diflerentially adjusted to raise and lower the outer portions relatively to the inner portions.

18. In a road working machine, the combination, with a main frame, and a plurality of raising and lowering devices carried thereby and comprising a bridge beam for each of said devices, of a succession of blades arranged in pairs, a connection between the inner end of each blade and said frame, and longitudinal beams connecting the bridge beams with the outer ends of the blades, the connections between the blades and the main frame and between the longitudinal beams and the bridge beams being flexible, whereby the blades may have limited movement.

19. In a road working machine, a main frame, blades pivotally attached to said frame, a bridge beam extending across said frame and connected with outer ends of said blades, a pivoted nut upon said frame,

a screw rotatably mounted within-saidlnlit and connected centrally to said bridge beam for raising and lowering the inner ends of said blades relatively to the outer ends.

20. In a road workin machine, a main frame, a plurality of b ades pivotally attached to said frame, connecting bars pivotally connecting the outer ends of said blades, and a plurality of independently operable devices for adjusting the outer ends of said blades relatively to the inner ends, each of said devices comprising a nut pivoted to said frame, and a rotatable screw passing therethrough. 21. In a road working machine, the combination, with a main frame, of a plurality of blades having their inner ends connected flexibly with said main frame, a bridge beam carried by said frame and flexible connections between the outer ends of the blades and the bridge beam comprising .slotted brackets.

22. In a road workin machine, a main frame, a plurality of b ades having their inner ends flexibly connected to said main frame and their outer endsconnected together, bridge beams carried by said frame, and slotted brackets carried b the connections for the outer ends of the b ades through 'each blade may yield somewhat.

In testimony whereof, we afix our signatures.

SHERWOOD M. CHASE. FRANK A. FLEMING.

of blades, flexible joints which the ends of the bridge beams extend. 

